Times of Oman - November 29, 2016

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TUESDAY November 29, 2016 29 Safar 1438 AH

6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

To sheikhs and dignitaries of Dhofar at the conclusion of His Majesty’s Meet-thePeople Tour of the country, 1995

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’

MORNING MINUTE

When it rains, it begins in small drops and then it pours. It is the same with material benefit. What you should be doing is to enlighten your children on these matters so that they can feel responsibility towards themselves and towards serving their country.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 232 | 36 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Traffic accidents drop this year

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Safety experts have noted a drop in traffic accidents this year, and said people are more aware and being held accountable for their actions on Oman’s roads. Traffic accidents have registered a 37.3 per cent decrease. >A3

WORLD

Syrian army captures parts of Aleppo

PLAN TO CUT VISA RED-TAPE REJIMON K CHIEF REPORTER

Tanfeedh wants to cut time taken to obtain work visas from months to five days

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Waiting times for labour visas in Oman must be cut from months to just five working days, according to the government’s Tanfeedh programme. The think tank plotting out a roadmap for Oman’s future also revealed that temporary visas could soon be issued to

workers in certain sectors – a first for the country. At the moment, visas can take up to 12 months to be processed and migrant workers have to come to Oman on specific full-time work visas for a period of two years. The moves to speed up - and free up - the labour market have been welcomed by industry. The government plans to introduce a ‘one window”

approach to visa clearance, according to Tanfeedh, which would “reduce labour clearance process from months to five working days” in an effort to “improve the current process of doing business and free flow of human capital from application to issuance of visa.” Business houses, senior industry officials, employers, industrialists and manpower recruitment agencies have

all welcomed the move. “The current practice is delaying labour clearances. It is a bit complicated. If it is streamlined and can be done in five days as proposed by Tanfeedh, then it would be a blessing for the companies,” Ahmed Al Hooti, an official at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Times of Oman. >A4 More stories on >A4, A5

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The Syrian army and its allies announced the capture of a swathe of eastern Aleppo from rebels on Monday in an accelerating attack that threatens to crush the opposition in its most important urban stronghold. >A12

MARKET

Orpic offers $400m worth of contracts

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Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company is offering business opportunities worth of $400m for small and medium enterprises for developing its $6.5 billion-Liwa Plastics Industries Complex. >B1

JANUARY 27

Marathon runners set to double RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: With more than 1,200 runners to take part in the Muscat Marathon on January 27, the number of participants is set to double next year. Organisers say the event is aimed at raising awareness on fitness and health. “In order to have a healthy lifestyle, people should

take part in Muscat Marathon,” Chairman of Muscat Road Runners (MMR) Ahmed Al Malki told the Times of Oman on Monday. In addition to the conventional 42 km marathon, the Muscat Marathon will feature 21 km halfmarathon, and a 10 km run. “Anyone above 16 years of age can take part in this run,” Ahmed said. The marathon will begin from, and end at Al Mouj Muscat. “The

final route is yet to be finalised,” he said. The Muscat Marathon has grown steadily in popularity over the years. In January 2016, around 600 runners took to the roads in Muscat that showcased the city’s most striking locations. “But this year, we are expecting around 1,200 people, and about 700 have already registered with us for Marathon 2017,” Al Malki said. >A6

Oman win team gold at Arab Tennis Championship

C1


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